The Daishonin taught that there are 14 things that prevent us from becoming happy. Two of them are:
A mistaken view of our life (we don’t know who we are) and too much attachment to material things.

Appreciate your own life first.
A tree stays a tree no matter if you kick it or curse at it. It is in harmony with itself. It doesn't care what you do. It is just being a tree. But this is not the same with humans. We do not live in harmony with our true nature, and we are swayed by the opinions and thoughts of those outside of us. We embrace our mistaken identities so deeply that they become our reality. Appreciation does not refer to things outside your self.

Our fundamental problem is that we are unhappy. Our lives have unbelievable power and wisdom, but we don't trust ourselves and let it come forth. When your life is falling apart, try and chant in that moment to appreciate your own life. We always look for validation outside and we'll never get it. If we validate ourselves, we will be able to influence everything around us. If, however, you begrudge your life, you will not be able to turn it around. To turn your life around in one month:
1) Perceive the truth of your life.
2) Take responsibility for creating the greatest benefit you've ever had.

Everything begins and ends wtih you. Don't chant to overcome an obstacle. Don't chant about something out there. Chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo for the harmony of your own life. Chant to perceive your own truth.Being a Buddha does not mean you are perfect. It means you always turn the negative into a benefit. Our goal as Buddhists is to develop a correct view of our life. Nichiren Daishonin said, "He who perceives the greatness of his life is a Buddha. He who doesn't is a fool." It is not easy to appreciate your life, because your life does not want to appreciate itself.

In our minds we judge our lives. We see part of our self as good and part as bad. We believe we have to push everything to the positive side to be happy. But you cannot do that. You just are who you are. There is no such thing as Good Buddha, Bad Buddha. We are all just Buddhas. And sometimes we will do terrible things. Good and bad exists because we are human beings. The only thing our stupidity proves is that we are human. And there is nothing wrong with that. Being a Buddha means that we take the negative and turn it into a benefit.

When we take a negative circumstance and use it to validate a negative belief about our self we are in misery. Because you haven't got the job you've always wanted is not proof that you are a terrible and worthless person. We are all dysfunctional somehow, and we believe it is the cause of all our suffering. We buy into this belief so that we have a reason to fail. Then negative only perpetuates itself and gets deeper. Our Buddhahood exists inside our dysfunction, too. If we manifest our Buddhahood and appreciate our life, then our "dysfunction” will become our greatest benefit. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can turn anything around. Everything about our character is unbelievably wonderful. We think we have to fix what we believe to be broken, but in reality nothing is broken.

Appreciation does not mean that you accept the circumstances. We need to find out how wonderful and powerful our life is. Again, it is not about something outside of you. Appreciation has three qualities:
No matter what happens you do not betray your dreams/goals/self.
No matter what happens, you don't make any judgments about yourself
No matter what the situation in your life, you must turn it around.

It is unacceptable to be in a place where you are depressed. That has to be our fundamental attitude. If you are angry, make it the function of the Buddha. Whatever quality is fundamental to your life, chant to appreciate it and it will bring out unbelievable power.

Quotes from the Gosho: “Believers in the Lotus Sutra should absolutely be the last to abuse one another”.
”This body of ours will one day become nothing more than the soil of the hills and fields. Therefore, it is useless to begrudge your life.” WND, pg.755

The Fourteen Slanders and a way to change them:
1. arrogance- humbleness
2. negligence- care
3. wrong egotistical view of life- decisions based on respect
4. shallow understanding- understanding based on dignity
5. attachment to earthly desires- control of earthly desires
6. not understanding- seeking spirit
7. not believing- believing
8. aversion- attraction
9. misled doubts understanding through trust
10. slandering -praise
11. despising -respect
12. hating- compassion
13. jealousy- admiration
14. grudges- accepting of responsibility

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This page was last modified on Sunday, August 20, 2006.